FIFTH COMMITTEE ASKS EXPERT BODY TO PRESENT EIGHT PROPOSALS FOR SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS AFTER FAILING TO AGREE ON SINGLE SET OF ELEMENTS
Press Release
GA/AB/3141
FIFTH COMMITTEE ASKS EXPERT BODY TO PRESENT EIGHT PROPOSALS FOR SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS AFTER FAILING TO AGREE ON SINGLE SET OF ELEMENTS
19970331 Also Asks Secretary-General to Issue Instructions on Responsibility Of Managers for Proper Use of Human Resources; Suspends Resumed SessionThe General Assembly would request the Committee on Contributions to present eight proposals for a scale of assessments for the period 1998-2000, based on a range of elements and criteria submitted by delegations, if it adopts a consolidated, compromise draft resolution approved without a vote by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on Thursday night, 27 March, as it concluded the first part of its resumed session.
The consolidated text approved supersedes the five drafts formally submitted previously by Mexico, United Republic of Tanzania (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), United States, Japan and Canada. Major points of contention include proposals as to whether to set the maximum assessment rate at 20 or 25 per cent of the budget and whether to use statistical base periods of three, six or nine years. The base period is the number of years used in calculating States national income for assessments purposes. It is currently 7.5 years.
The proposals also differ on whether debt adjustments for assessments should be based on external debt burden or on actual payment of principal. Yet, another proposal would abolish the adjustment for external debt. The proposals of the Committee on Contributions, which advises the Assembly on the apportionment of the United Nations expenses, should be submitted to the Assembly's fifty-second session.
The representative of Norway introduced the draft text. Statements were then made by the representatives of Japan, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Canada, United Republic of Tanzania, China, New Zealand, Netherlands (for the European Union), Latvia and Côte d'Ivoire.
As the Committee ended the first part of its resumed fifty-first session, which began on 10 March, it also approved, without a vote, draft texts on financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors; financing of the Military Observer Group of the United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA); the strengthening of oversight mechanisms; aspects of the 1996-1997 budget related to travel expenses; gratis personnel; Office of Internal Oversight Services; and human resources management.
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The seven-part, 14-page draft resolution on human resources would, among other things, ask the Secretary-General to issue specific administrative instructions to establish clearly the responsibility and accountability of managers for the proper use of human resources. The instruction should also establish sanctions for any financial loss suffered by the United Nations due to gross negligence, including improper motivation, wilful violation or reckless disregard of Staff Regulations and established policies for recruitment, placement and promotion.
On staff representation, the draft would have the Assembly limit the period of continuous release of personnel for representational activities to four years and also curtail such release to elected staff representatives only. The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to ensure equitable representation of Member States, particularly developing and inadequately represented countries, at the Secretariat's senior levels.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to restrict temporary appointments against regular budget or extrabudgetary posts of one year or more to temporary needs; prevent placing staff against higher-level unencumbered posts for more than three months; and not to decrease entry-level posts (P-1 to P-3) for budgetary purposes. It would decide to consider the situation of staff on the redeployment list as a priority at the second resumed session of the Fifth Committee, scheduled to be held from 12 May to 6 June. Further, the draft would have the Assembly ask the Secretary-General to refrain from using consultants for established-post functions.
By the terms of a draft text approved on the respect for the privileges and immunities of United Nations system officials, the Assembly would deplore the risks confronting them and ask the Secretary-General to pay special attention to Member States' restrictions, which impede those officials' ability to carry out their functions. Austria's representative introduced the draft. The representatives of Germany and Syria spoke after action on the text.
The draft resolution on the newly authorized Military Observer Group of MINUGUA would have the Assembly establish a special account for the Group and appropriate and apportion for it -- as an ad hoc arrangement -- about $4 million gross and net for the period 15 February to 31 May.
Bangladesh's representative introduced the draft and the representative of Germany spoke after action.
On the Board of Auditors reports, the Committee approved a two-part draft resolution that would have the Assembly ask the Secretary-General and the executive heads of certain United Nations entities to rectify the situations that led the Board to qualify its audit opinion on their financial statements and to avoid a recurrence. By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General and the executive heads of concerned bodies to take disciplinary measures in cases of proven fraud and enhance the individual accountability of United Nations personnel.
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Latvia's representative introduced the draft; Canada's representative spoke after action.
On the issue of gratis personnel, acted upon under the agenda item on aspects of the 1996-1997 budget, the Committee approved a draft text that would have the Assembly defer considering the reports of the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on the issue until the second part of the Committee's resumed session.
Mexico's representative presented the draft. The representatives of the United Republic of Tanzania and Pakistan made statements.
On the reports of and on the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the Committee approved a draft decision that would have the Assembly defer further consideration of the agenda item to May. The representative of the Philippines introduced the draft.
The Committee also decided to defer to its next resumed session further consideration of the questions on the strengthening of external oversight mechanisms and staff travel expenses.
In addition, the Committee approved a draft decision that would have the Assembly conclude its consideration of the agenda item on the 1994-1995 budget, recalling that it had since December 1995 approved $2.632 billion as final appropriations for the biennium.
During the earlier part of Thursday evening's meeting, Committee members expressed concern that a programme performance report that was supposed to discuss the impact of saving measures approved for the 1996-1997 budget were having on the full implementation of mandates had not been submitted. Statements were made by the representatives of Germany, Egypt, Cuba, Portugal, Costa Rica and Pakistan.
The Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, Karl Paschke, informed the Committee that his Office could assess the impact of the approved savings measures on the 1996-1997 budget mandates in the context of the programme performance report on the biennium that would be submitted to the Assembly's fifty-second session.
The issues of the switching off of conference room microphones during the Secretary-General's address to the Committee on 17 March and of parking in the United Nations garage were also discussed. Statements were made by the representatives of Portugal, Cuba, Costa Rica and Pakistan.
A representative of the Secretariat, Richard Nasereddin, addressed the issue of parking in the United Nations garage, while the Fifth Committee's Secretary, Joseph Acakpo-Satchivi, spoke on the issue of the microphones.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again from 12 May to 6 June for the second part of its resumed session.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met Thursday evening, 27 March, to take action on a number of agenda items and to conclude the first part of its resumed session. Among issues scheduled for consideration are financial statements and reports of the United Nations Board of Auditors, the financing of the Military Observer Group of the United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), review of United Nations administrative and financial efficiency and the Organization's 1994-1995 regular budget.
The Committee is also scheduled to consider aspects of the 1996-1997 regular budget, administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of peace-keeping missions, activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, scale of assessments and human resources management.
Financial Statements and Reports of Board of Auditors
The Committee has before it a two-part draft resolution on financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors (document A/C.5/51/L.47), which, in part A, would have the General Assembly ask the Secretary-General and the executive heads of certain United Nations entities to rectify the situation that made the Board qualify its audit opinion on their financial statements and to avoid another qualification in the next audit. The entities are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).
The draft would also have the Assembly ask the Board to point out more precisely in its future reports cases of malpractice and violations of rules and regulations. The Board would also have to indicate more clearly the recommendations that have not been fully implemented and propose to the Assembly's fifty-second session measures to improve the implementation of Board recommendations.
By other terms of the draft, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General and the executive heads of concerned bodies to take necessary disciplinary measures in cases of proven fraud and enhance the individual accountability of United Nations personnel, including stronger managerial control.
Regarding the Board of Auditors, the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), the Assembly would ask them to
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maintain and enhance, whenever possible, their cooperation, while respecting the distinction between internal and external oversight.
Expressing regret at the fact that the United Nations Postal Administration and services to visitors incurred net losses in 1994 to 1995, the draft would ask the Secretary-General to redress the situation and report to the Assembly.
According to some of the provisions in its part B, the draft would have the Commission on Human Settlements request corrective action on serious financial irregularities in the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements and on the decision by the management of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to divert $900,000 from the Foundation's funds to pay for some of the preparatory work of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (Istanbul, June, 1996).
With a view to requesting immediate corrective action, the draft would have the Assembly draw the attention of UNEP's Governing Council to serious problems, including the fact that eight to nine of its 12 audited projects had suffered cost or time overruns because of difficulties in identifying consultants.
Financing of Military Observer Group of MINUGUA
The draft text on the financing of the Military Observer Group of MINUGUA (document A/C.5/51/L.48), would have the Assembly establish a special account for the Group and appropriate and apportion for it -- as an ad hoc arrangement -- some $4 million gross and net for the period 15 February to 31 May. The sum includes the $3 million the Secretary-General had been authorized to commit, on 11 February, by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
The Group's attachment to MINUGUA was authorized by Security Council resolution 1094 (1997) of 20 January.
Budget for 1994-1995
A draft decision on the 1994-1995 budget (document A/C.5/51/L.51) would have the Assembly conclude its consideration of the agenda item on that budget, recalling that it had since December 1995 approved $2.632 billion as final appropriations for the biennium.
1996-1997 Programme Budget
The draft decision on gratis personnel provided by governments and other entities (document A/C.5/51/L.52), submitted under agenda items on programme
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budget for 1996-1997, human resources management, financing of the International Tribunals, and financing of peace-keeping operations, would have the Assembly defer consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ on gratis personnel.
Pending a final decision on the matter, it would have the Assembly ask the Secretary-General not to expand the number of such personnel implementing certain mandates. In the case of new and/or expanded needs implying urgent requirements for expertise not available within the Organization, the draft would have the Assembly ask the Secretary-General to use gratis personnel with due regard to the importance of maintaining as wide a geographical basis as possible, for a very limited and specific period. In order to ensure transparency, he should approach all Member States on the possibility of providing that expertise temporarily.
The draft would also request the Secretary-General to review the proposed guidelines on the use of gratis personnel and report to the Assembly before 12 May. He should also update the information in his report, including data on nationality of gratis personnel, detailed descriptions of their functions and on any change on the use of such personnel after 31 October 1996. He would also be asked to submit a comprehensive report before 12 May on the methodology and level of application of administrative support costs mentioned in the Secretary-General's report, including its legislative basis.
Scale of Assessments
On the scale of assessments, the Committee has before it two new draft resolutions, submitted by Japan and Canada. With the submission of those drafts, the Committee now has before it five draft proposals on the scale of assessments -- from Mexico, the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, the United States, Japan and Canada.
The two latter drafts, in the preambular paragraphs, reaffirm that the capacity to pay of Member States is the fundamental criterion for determining the scale of assessments. However, Canada's text states, in addition, that the Organization's expenses should be apportioned broadly according to capacity to pay.
By the draft resolution submitted by Japan (document A/C.5/51/L.50), the Assembly would request the Committee on Contributions to recommend to the fifty-second Assembly session a scale for the period 1998-2000 on the basis of the following elements and criteria: a floor rate of 0.001 per cent and a 25 per cent ceiling/maximum rate; gross national product (GNP) to be used as a first approximation of capacity to pay; adoption of a six-year statistical base period; uniform exchange rates; and debt adjustment to be based on actual principal payments.
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Other elements and criteria would include: the establishment of a low per capita income allowance formula with a per capita income limit of the average world per capita income for the statistical base period and a gradient of 75 per cent; and the effect of the scheme of limits to be phased out in equal instalments by the year 2000.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would decide that in phasing out the scheme of limits, the allocation of additional points resulting therefrom to developing countries benefiting from its application shall be limited to 15 per cent of the effect of the phase-out. It would also decide that individual rates for the least developed countries shall not exceed 0.01 per cent and that the permanent members of the Security Council would not be eligible for a low per capita income allowance in calculating their scale of assessment for the regular budget.
In the draft text submitted by Canada (document A/C.5/51/L.53), the Assembly would request the Committee on Contributions to recommend to the Assembly's fifty-second session a scale of assessments for the period 1998- 2000 on the basis of the following elements: no floor rate; a 25 per cent ceiling rate; a three-year statistical base period; the scale should be expressed in four decimal places of a percentage point; estimates of GNP, as a first approximation of capacity to pay and subject to the adjustments for factors identified by the Assembly, as recommended by the Contributions Committee in its July 1996 report; conversion rates, also recommended by the Committee on Contributions [that market exchange rates should be used, except where this causes excessive fluctuations or distortions in Member States' incomes, when price-adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates should be employed].
Another element of the scale would be the debt adjustment approach proposed by the Contributions Committee -- that debt information available from the World Bank should be the basis for future calculations to measure debt-adjusted income and that the adjustment should be based on data on actual principal repayments, rather than on a proportion of debt stocks, as in the current scale of assessments. The text also proposes a low per capita income allowance formula with a per capita income limit of the world average per capita income for the statistical base period and a gradient of 85 per cent below the limit -- the additional points resulting therefrom to be absorbed progressively by countries with per capita income above the limit, using a gradient of 25 per cent. In addition, the remaining effects of the scheme of limits should be phased out completely with effect from 1 January 1998.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide that individual rates for the least developed countries shall not exceed the level of 0.01 per cent. It would also decide that the GNP and world income shares of Member States should be re-calculated annually on the basis of a three-year rolling average, and
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the scale adjusted accordingly. It would decide further that the annual re- calculation should not be deemed to be a general revision of the scale. By other terms of the draft, the Assembly would endorse the view of the Contributions Committee that the length of the statistical base period should be kept constant in successive scale periods.
By the draft resolution submitted by the United States on the scale of assessments (document A/C.5/51/L.46), the Assembly would request the Committee on Contributions to recommend to its fifty-second session, a scale of assessments for the period 1998-2000 on the basis of the following elements and criteria: a ceiling rate of 20 per cent; a statistical base period of three years with automatic annual updating; the use of gross national product (GNP) instead of net national income; carrying the scale to six decimal places; and the use of market exchange rates, except where that caused excessive fluctuations or distortions in the income of some Member States, when price-adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates should be employed.
Other elements and criteria in the text are: setting the low per-capita income relief gradient at 75 per cent; and non-eligibility of permanent members of the Security Council for relief based on low per capita income. The Assembly would also decide that the scheme of limits should be phased out in 1998 and that the allocation of additional points resulting therefrom to developing countries benefiting from its application be limited to 15 per cent of the effect of the phase-out.
Introduced last week by the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, the draft text of the Group of 77 and China (document A/C.5/51/L.43) contains the following elements and criteria: a ceiling rate of 25 per cent; a floor rate of 0.001 per cent; the use of GNP instead of net national income; a statistical base period of six years; and the debt adjustment approach and low per capita income allowance formula used in the preparation of the scale of assessments for the period 1995-1997;
Other elements and criteria in the text include: carrying the scale of assessments to three decimal places; and using market exchange rates for the purpose of the scale, except where that caused excessive fluctuations or distortions in the income of some Member States.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide that individual rates of assessment for the least developed countries shall not exceed their current level, namely, 0.01 per cent. It would also decide that the scheme of limits should be phased out in accordance with resolution 48/223 B, paragraph 1 (f), and that the allocation of additional points resulting from the scheme to developing countries benefiting from its application shall be limited to 15 per cent of the effect of the phase-out.
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The Mexico draft (document A/C.5/51/L.21) was introduced during the Assembly's fifty-first regular session and recommends a scale of assessments on the basis of the following elements: a ceiling rate of 25 per cent; a floor rate of 0.001 per cent; a statistical base period of six years; uniform exchange rates; the debt adjustment approach used in preparing the 1995-1997 scale; a low per capita income allowance formula, with a per capita income limit of the average world per capita income for the statistical base period and a gradient of 85 per cent; the phase-out of the scheme of limits; and the expression of the scale in three decimal places.
Also by the text the Assembly would decide that in phasing out the scheme of limits, the allocation of the additional points to developing countries benefiting from its application shall be limited to 15 per cent of the effect of the phase-out. It would also decide that individual rates for the least developed countries shall not exceed the level of 0.01 per cent.
[The scale of assessments is a table of dues that Member States are expected to pay towards the United Nations regular budget. The existing method of determining those contributions has the following features: a base period of 7.5 years for calculating national income; a debt burden adjustment -- a reduction of national income for countries with a per capita income below $6000 to reflect a theoretical repayment of external debt; and a further relief for countries with low per capita income. The relief consists of a further reduction of national income equal to 85 per cent of the proportion by which a country's per capita income falls below $3,200, a limit set as the world's average per capita income.
The calculations also include a ceiling rate of 25 per cent and a floor rate of 0.01 per cent. Also included are: a rate of not more than 0.01 per cent for least developed countries; a scheme of limits to control the rate by which a Member State's dues can vary between two successive scales; and another adjustment -- mitigation -- whereby the assessment of countries facing exceptional difficulties is further cut at the discretion of the Committee on Contributions.
The Committee on Contributions advises the Assembly on all questions relating to the apportionment of the Organization's expenses, assessments of new Member States, appeals by Member States for changes in their assessments and the application of Article 19 of the United Nations Charter -- on arrears and limits of voting rights. The Committee is awaiting guidelines from the Fifth Committee and the Assembly to set the next scale of assessment, beginning in 1998, which should then be agreed on by the Assembly by the end of 1997.]
The Committee is also expected to consider a compromise draft introduced by the Chairman following informal consultations. The terms of the draft
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would request the Committee on Contributions to present to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session eight proposals for a scale of assessments for the period 1998-2000 which would incorporate a range of elements and criteria taking account of the details of all the draft texts submitted by delegations as well as some additional ideas proposed in the informal consultations.
Human Resources Management
A draft text on respect for the privileges and immunities of officials of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and related organizations (document A/C.5/51/L.54), would have the Assembly deplore the risks confronting United Nations personnel, including those engaged in peace-keeping and humanitarian operations, and locally recruited staff. It would request the Secretary-General to pay special attention to Member States' restrictions, which may impede the ability of United Nations officials and those of the specialized agencies and related organizations to carry out their functions, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-third session.
Also by the draft text, the Assembly would express its deep appreciation to United Nations personnel, including those engaged in peace-keeping and humanitarian operations, and locally recruited staff, for their efforts to contribute to achieving peace and security and to alleviating the suffering of the people living in areas of conflict. In a preambular paragraph, the Assembly would stress that respect for the privileges and immunities of United Nations officials and the specialized agencies is becoming even more imperative owing to the growing number of assignments entrusted by Member States to the United Nations system.
A seven-part 14-page draft resolution on human resources management (document A/C.5/51/L.49) contains the following sections: implementation of the Secretary-General's strategy for the management of the Organization's human resources (section I); the role of the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat (section II); human resources planning, recruitment, status of women and career development (section III); redeployment (section IV); ratio between career and fixed-term appointments (section V); consultants (section VI); and reporting to the Assembly (section VII).
By the terms of section I of the draft, the Assembly would urge the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to ensure full implementation of his strategy for the Organization's human resources. It would regret the unsuccessful efforts to develop a management environment and culture in the Organization that enables staff members to contribute their maximum potential, effectiveness and efficiency.
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Section II of the draft would recognize the role of the Office of Human Resources Management as the Secretary-General's primary representative in establishing human resources policies and guidelines, and strongly request the Secretary-General to maintain its central policy authority. It would also request him to enhance managerial accountability with respect to human resources management decisions, including imposing sanctions in cases of demonstrated mismanagement of staff, wilful neglect or disregard for established rules and procedures, while safeguarding the due process rights of all staff members, including managers.
Other terms of that section would also request the Secretary-General to issue specific administrative instructions to establish clearly the responsibility and accountability of programme managers for proper use of human resources. Those instructions should include sanctions in accordance with staff rule 112.3 (financial responsibility) for any financial loss suffered by the United Nations as a result of gross negligence, including improper motivation, wilful violation or reckless disregard of the Staff Regulations and Rules and established policies regulating recruitment, placement and promotion.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would deplore the high number of exceptions to the established procedures for the recruitment, placement and promotion of staff, in particular in the Office of Human Resources Management. It would requests the Secretary-General to announce all vacancies so as to give equal opportunity to all qualified staff and to encourage mobility. It should be understood that the Secretary-General's discretionary power of appointment and promotion outside the established procedures should be limited to his Executive Office and the Under-Secretaries-General and Assistant Secretaries-General levels, as well as Special Envoys at all levels.
The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to ensure that before delegating authority in human resources management to programme managers, well-designed mechanisms of accountability, including the necessary internal monitoring and control procedures, as well as training, are put in place.
On staff-management consultative mechanisms, the draft resolution reaffirms the need for the Secretary-General to strengthen the staff- management dialogue in the United Nations and all of its funds and programmes. In addition, the Assembly would request him to ensure, in his proposed programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999, provision of the level of resources to the Office of Human Resources Management commensurate with the mandate referred to in the present resolution.
Regarding staff representation, the Assembly, would recall that the functions of staff representatives are official and that elected staff representatives are staff members of the United Nations. The Assembly would
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recognize the fact that staff representatives are entitled to an opportunity for career advancement and decide that the period of their continuous release should not exceed four years, and also decide to limit such release to elected staff representatives only, on either a full-time or a part-time basis.
Under the terms of section III of the draft text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to use, to the greatest extent possible, existing mechanisms, such as agreed termination or granting leave without pay, to create opportunities for upward mobility for existing staff and for recruiting new staff.
The Assembly would stress the vital importance of the recruitment of new staff and reaffirm that no post should be considered the exclusive preserve of any Member State or group of States, including at the highest level. The Secretary-General would be requested to take every available measure to ensure, at the senior and policy-making levels of the Secretariat, the equitable representation of Member States, in particular of developing countries and Member States with inadequate representation at those levels.
By other terms of the text, the Secretary-General would be requested to restrict the practice of temporary appointments against regular budget or extrabudgetary posts of one year or more to temporary needs, for example field mission replacements and authorized leaves. He would also be requested to take effective measures to prevent the placement of staff members against higher-level unencumbered posts for periods longer than three months, and to issue vacancy announcements within a three-month period. He would be further requested to instruct all programme managers to inform the Office of Human Resources Management of all vacancies immediately and of all foreseen vacancies six months before the post becomes vacant.
Among a number of provisions on competitive examinations, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue to hold national competitive examinations for posts at the P-2 and P-3 levels to select the best qualified candidates from inadequately represented Member States. Special attention should be paid to the promotion prospects of staff to the P-3 level and to the need to conduct such examinations with maximum efficiency and economy. The Assembly would request the Secretary-General not to decrease the proportion of entrance-level posts at the P-1 to P-3 levels for budgetary purposes.
Further by the draft text the Assembly would urge the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures, including instructions to department heads, to place all successful candidates from the national competitive examinations within one year, subject to the availability of posts, and to accord priority consideration to those candidates who have not been placed within one year for all other vacancies, including those of short duration. The Secretary-General
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would also be requested to resume normal recruitment activities at all levels as soon as possible.
On the status of women in the Secretariat, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures, as soon as possible, to enable the mandate of the Focal Point for Women to be fulfilled. It would encourage the Secretary-General to appoint more women at the D-1 level and above, consistent with Article 101 of the United Nations Charter. The Secretary-General would also be requested to develop a family leave programme for United Nations staff without creating supplementary leave entitlements and to report thereon to the Assembly as soon as possible.
Concerning career development, the Assembly would request the Secretary- General to report on the feasibility of holding the national competitive examinations in the six official languages, without prejudice to the mandatory knowledge of English and French as working languages.
By other terms of the text -- section IV on redeployment -- the Assembly would reiterate its request contained in paragraph 12 of resolution 51/221 (to report on the progress of staff on the redeployment list) and decide to consider the report on the situation of those staff members as a matter of priority during the next resumed session of the Fifth Committee (May/June).
Under section V, on the ratio between career and fixed-term appointments, the Assembly would decide that five years of continuing service as stipulated in resolution 37/126 of 17 December 1982 did not confer the automatic right to a permanent appointment. It would also decide that other considerations, such as outstanding performance, the operational realities of the organizations and core functions of the post, should be duly taken into account.
By the terms of section VI on consultants, the Assembly would express its concern about the practice of using consultants to carry out functions assigned to established posts, and would request the Secretary-General to refrain from that practice. It would also request the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the United Nations organizations and programmes to ensure selection of consultants on a more competitive basis.
The Secretary-General would also be requested to prepare, no later than by the end of 1997, comprehensive policy guidelines on the terms of reference (including objectives, targets and output delivery dates), selection, hiring and renewal of consultants and ensuring transparency and objectivity in the selection process, and to submit those guidelines to the ACABQ for review before their consideration by the Assembly at its fifty-second session.
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Statements on Aspects of 1996-1997 Budget
NGONI FRANCIS SENGWE (Zimbabwe), the Committee Chairman, said the Assembly had expressed regret in a resolution that the programme performance requested in paragraph 11 of section II of its resolution 50/214 -- which should have been presented no later than at the end of the Assembly's fiftieth session -- had not been submitted and further asked the Secretary-General to present, no later than 1 March 1997, the above programme report on the impact of approved savings measures on the implementation of mandated programmes and activities.
[Overall, resolution 50/214 decided that a provisional budget total of $2.712 billion be cut to $2.608 billion, without affecting the full implementation of mandates.]
KARL T. PASCHKE, Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, said his Office, responsible for oversight, was not supposed to undertake functions that were the responsibility of the Department of Administration and Management. Since the deadline for submitting the report was March 1997, the resolution sought a document on a programme of work that was still being implemented and before the completion of the budget period. As such, the report did not fall within purview of the Office. The resolution had not identified the Office as the entity responsible for preparing the report. And, from the point of view of an evaluator, in charge of oversight, it would be premature to assess the impact of the savings before the biennium was completed and the work delivered. Since it was Management's responsibility to apprise Member States of the programme changes imposed by the savings, the Assembly could seek clarifications from Management on the rationale and criteria for their distribution among the various parts of the budget.
He said the assessment of the impact of the savings measures on 1996- 1997 mandates could be addressed meaningfully in the context of the programme performance report on the biennium. If the Assembly so desired, his Office could devote a section on the issue in the 1996-1997 performance report to be submitted to the Assembly's fifty-second session, through the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC).
WOLFGANG STOCKL (Germany) said the response should have been given by the Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management, since he was the principal representative of the Secretariat in the implementation of relevant resolutions on the budget. Matters of responsibility in the Secretariat should be properly defined and coordinated. He shared the interpretation given by the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight on the matter. He was saddened by the absence of representatives from Administration and Management at a very responsible level to address the
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matter. The Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management should be aware of Germany's concerns on the matter.
AMR NOUR (Egypt) said the issue should have been handled by Management and not the Office of Internal Oversight Services. He was concerned no one had come from the Department of Administration and Management to discuss the matter, which should remain open for deliberations in the next resumed session in May. It seemed that Management had not respected two resolutions of the Assembly asking for the performance reports.
NORMA GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) endorsed the view of the Under-Secretary- General for Internal Oversight Services. The report should have come form the Department of Administration and Management. She was astonished that the closing meeting of the present session did not have representatives of the Department of Administration and Management. She stressed that the decision to request the programme performance report was part of the political agreement reached before adopting the 1996-1997 budget. It was deplorable that resolutions of the Assembly seemed to be ignored by parts of the Secretariat.
The representative said that the issue should be one of the first questions taken up in the next resumed session in May. She expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the explanations given by its Under-Secretary-General.
Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), the Committee Chairman, said it was the responsibility of the Department of Administration and Management to respond to questions on the performance reports.
Response to Questions Regarding Garage Space
RICHARD NASEREDDIN, Chief, Buildings Management Service, Building and Commercial Services Division, Office of Conference and Support Services, responded to questions about the repairs in the United Nations Secretariat garage and the inconvenience to delegations, that was the lack of parking space. He informed of the amount of funds available for repairs to the garage. Recent analysis had revealed that major repairs to the garage were needed. Funding was available for the repairs to begin by June. He would try to ensure that more parking spaces were made available to delegations.
On the second matter, regarding the interruption of the public transmission system of the proceedings of the Fifth Committee's meeting on 17 March he said he did not have an answer. There had been a letter from the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General regarding such a directive.
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REGINA EMERSON (Portugal) said she believed that more funds for repairs were available than had been stated. Regarding parking space, she said that she had been forced to park next to the prohibited area in the garage and had received a summons for parking there. She wanted to know what was a summons.
Ms. GOICOCHEA (Cuba) said in the context of resolution 50/214 (on questions related to the 1996-1997 budget) there was a request for a review of the operation of the United Nations garage in order to provide adequate space for delegations. It was an issue of fundamental importance, taking into account the action being taken on that issue outside the United Nations. She asked what measures were envisaged by the Secretariat on the issue.
She understood that there were far more funds for implementing such projects as repairs to the garage. She asked for more information on what projects were being implemented under Section 31 of the budget (Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance). She also had heard rumours that some non-staff members had access to parking spaces in the garage. Although she did not give any credence to rumours, she needed to find out if that was the case.
NAZARETH INCERA (Costa Rica) said she wanted confirmation that the Fifth Committee had been unaware of the letter regarding the shutting off of the microphones of delegates in the conference room during the meeting on 17 March, when the Secretary-General addressed the Committee.
AMJAD HUSSAIN SIAL (Pakistan) said he had also received summons when he parked in the United Nations garage. He had a lot of difficulty finding parking spaces. It was important to get an explanation of the summons since delegates were receiving parking tickets outside as well as inside the building. On another matter, he asked why delegates had to pay parking charges when they parked in the United Nations garage while they were at work in the building.
Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe) said, about the second question asked by the representative of Costa Rica, that he had written to the Chef de Cabinet at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to find out why the microphones were cut off, without getting satisfactory responses. Also, even though the Committee had invited Federico Riesco, Director, Conference Services Division, to give answers, he was not in attendance at the meeting.
Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said the Secretariat should provide the answers to Member States questions in writing.
Ms. INCERA (Costa Rica) asked whether the Secretariat could confirm whether the request for the microphones to be shut off had come from the Office of the Secretary-General's Spokesman.
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JOSEPH ACAKPO-SATCHIVI, the Fifth Committee's Secretary, said he had not been consulted on the switching off of microphones in the conference room during the Secretary-General's appearance on Monday, 17 March. The Committee's secretariat was never consulted on a procedure that was imposed on the Fifth Committee that day. The rules of procedures stated that all meetings of Main Committees and other relevant bodies were to be held in public. Subsequently, all required facilities should be adequately provided. The decision to switch off the microphones had been taken in an authoritative manner, without informing him and Member States were right to seek answers.
Ms. INCERA (Costa Rica) said the actions showed that the Secretariat was ignoring the rules of procedure and Member States' wishes. "Who did it and when was the order to switch off the microphones given?" she asked.
Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), the Committee's Chairman, said the Fifth Committee should plan to receive answers that should be provided in the next part of the resumed session.
Action on Reports of Board of Auditors
ULDIS BLUKIS (Latvia), who had conducted informal consultations on behalf of the Committee Chairman, introduced the draft resolution and reviewed some of its contents. A new procedure was to be introduced by paragraph 24 of part A, which would have the Assembly decide to consider the Board's substantive findings and recommendations under the relevant agenda items.
He asked whether the draft could not have been done in less time and in shorter form than the current one. Member States should think of how to improve future drafts. He asked for the text's approval by consensus.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
Speaking after action, SAM HANSON (Canada) expressed concern about paragraphs 2 and 11 of part B of the draft resolution, dealing with the financial statements of United Nations funds and programmes. The current wording of the resolution should not mean that the Committee could not directly ask the executive heads of the entities to take necessary remedial action. Since the present formulation in part B should not be seen as a precedent, the Canadian delegation reserved the right to revert to the former formulation.
Action on Financing of Military Observer Group of MINUGUA
SYED RAFIQUL ALOM (Bangladesh), a Committee Vice Chairman who had conducted informal consultations on the draft text, introduced it and reviewed some of its contents. He asked for its approval without a vote.
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The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
Speaking after action, KLAUS-DIETER STEIN (Germany) said that although he joined the consensus on peace-keeping budgets, he did so with reservations. His concern was that the amount of every peace-keeping budget would not be fully covered by Member States' contributions because one Member State had announced its intention to reduce its assessments to peace-keeping budgets to an amount it had deemed convenient. That unilateral action would further contribute to the already difficult financial situation of the Organization and jeopardize the implementation of all peace-keeping missions. For Germany, the commitment authority of the Secretary-General for every peace-keeping budget would have to be adjusted to the predictable income level.
Germany, he continued, would not stand for the non-payment of assessments by other Member States or for an effective change in its share of assessments for peace-keeping operations.
Statements on Review of Efficiency
Mr. STEIN (Germany), a Committee Vice-Chairman who had conducted informal consultations on the strengthening of external oversight mechanisms, such as the JIU, the ACABQ and the Board of Auditors, said the consultations had not been successful so far. All elements of the issue needed further consideration. He, therefore, suggested that the Committee continue its discussion of the matter in the second part of its resumed session in May.
The Committee decided to resume its consideration of the issue at the second part of the resumed session to be held from 12 May to 6 June.
1994-1995 Programme Budget
Committee Chairman, Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe) read the draft decision A/C.5/51/L.51 on concluding consideration of the agenda item on the 1994-1995 budget.
The Committee approved draft decision A/C.5/51/L.51, which would recommend that the Assembly conclude consideration of the agenda item.
1996-1997 Programe Budget
IHOR HUMENNY (Ukraine), the Committee's Rapporteur, who had conducted informal consultations on the question of travel and related expenses of staff, introduced a three-paragraph draft decision, A/C.5/51/L.55, on the matter.
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By the terms of the draft text, the Assembly would request the ICSC to review at the earliest opportunity, taking into account the reports of the ACABQ and the JIU, the question of travel entitlements of staff of the United Nations common system. The ICSC would be requested to report on the matter to the second part of the Assembly's resumed fifty-first session.
He therefore asked that the agenda item be deferred to the second part of the resumed session.
TAMMAN SULAIMAN (Syria) noted that the draft decision on travel expenses had been issued only in English as had the draft text on the scale of assessments. He realized that it was a result of the late consultations but he hoped that the draft would be translated into all six languages.
LUCIEN SCOTTI (France) also noted the fact that some texts were in English only. Although he realized the lateness of the consultations, it was important to emphasize that all texts be translated into all languages.
Mr. HANSON (Canada) and Ms. INCERA (Costa Rica) also agreed with that position.
The Committee then approved the draft decision on travel and related expenses without a vote.
Speaking after action, HIDEKI GODA (Japan) said the issue had been before the Committee for four years. Therefore, urgent action was needed on it at the second part of the Committee's resumed session. He felt strongly that the ICSC's mandate did not give the Commission any reason to delay action on the matter. His view should be conveyed to the ICSC. That body should deal with the matter within its schedule of work.
Action on Aspects of 1996-1997 Budget: Gratis Personnel
MARTA PENA (Mexico), who had conducted informal consultations on behalf of the Committee Chairman, introduced draft resolution A/C.5/51/L.52, on gratis personnel.
MUHAMMAD YUSSUF (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the delegations he spoke for had no problem in supporting the draft. But they had submitted some elements on the reports of the Secretary-General and the ACABQ on the gratis personnel, which should be considered in the next session in May.
Mr. SIAL (Pakistan) said he had asked in informal consultations for some information from the Secretariat, which had not yet been provided. A
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delegation's request for specific information in writing had also not yet been provided. The Secretariat should heed Member States' requests.
The draft decision to defer further consideration of the question of gratis personnel was approved without a vote.
Action of Draft on Office of Internal Oversight Services
MARY JO ARAGON (Philippines), who had conducted informal consultations on behalf of the Committee Chairman, said it had been agreed that further informal consultations would be necessary to complete work on the agenda item. The Committee could continue considering the Secretary-General's reports on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and on enhancing internal oversight mechanisms at the operational funds and programmes. The Committee's bureau should provide facilities for continued debate on the Oversight Office reports.
The representative said it had been agreed that the Oversight Office reports on Headquarters catering operations; on the review of outsourcing practices at the United Nations; on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); and on the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) should be considered under the relevant agenda items.
The Committee then decided to approve an oral draft decision presented by the Chairman to have the Assembly resume considering the agenda item at the next part of the resumed session.
Action of Human Resources Management
THOMAS SCHLESINGER (Austria), who had conducted informal consultations on two items related to human resources management, first introduced the draft text on respect for the privileges and immunities of officials of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and related organizations (document A/C.5/51/L.54).
He noted that the issue was now a separate agenda item because of its importance. In that connection, he drew attention to the preambular paragraphs of the resolution which referred to the earlier resolutions on the matter.
He then introduced the draft resolution on human resources management (document A/C.5/51/L.49), section by section. He said delegations had diverse views on the implementation of the Secretary-General's strategy for the management of the Organization's human resources but all agreed on the need for its speedier implementation. There was consensus on the importance of a system to monitor the delegation of authority. Regarding the ratio between
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career and fixed-term appointments, he said the request for the target of 70 per cent of permanent appointments in geographical posts was intended to be a long-term goal, but the process to achieve it should begin as soon as possible. The draft had requested that effective action be taken on the concerns delegations had expressed about consultants.
He made two oral amendments. The first amendment was made to the first paragraph of section 3B -- deleting the word "evolving". That paragraph should now read: "Stressing the vital importance of the recruitment of new staff to meet the needs of the Organization". Paragraph 6, line 2, was also amended orally -- the word "processes" was changed to "procedures".
Following the amendments, he recommended that the Committee approve the two drafts -- documents A/C.5/51/L.54 and A/C.5/51/L.49 -- as amended.
WOLFGANG STOCKL (Germany) referring to Section IV of the draft resolution -- reporting to the Assembly -- drew attention to two other reports -- the annual list of staff of the Secretariat and the composition of the Secretariat, which had not been mentioned. He requested that the latter document should include the numbers and the nationalities of the successful "G to P" exam candidates as well as the positions they held.
The Committee then approved the draft resolution contained in document A/C.5/51/L.49, on human resources management, as orally amended, without a vote. The draft resolution in document A/C.5/51/L.54, on privileges and immunities of United Nations officials, was also approved without a vote.
Speaking after action, Mr. SULAIMAN (Syria), referring to the resolution on privileges and immunities of United Nations officials, said his country had accorded to all international civil servants working there all privileges to which they were entitled. His Government therefore expected them to abide by the provisions of those agreements and respect the laws of the country, especially those relating to national sovereignty. International civil servants should refrain from any action that was not related to their assignments and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the States in which they worked. They should abide by the internal laws of Member States when performing their duties to the Organization.
Committee Chairman, Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), then suspended the meeting at 11.10 p.m. so that the Committee could complete its consultations on the scale of assessments.
Action on Scale of Assessments
Resuming the meeting at about 11:35 p.m., Committee Chairman, Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), recalled that several draft resolutions on scale of assessments
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had been pending before the Committee since the main part of the Assembly's fifty-first session.
TRYGVE GJESDAL (Norway), who had conducted informal consultations on behalf of the Committee Chairman, said about 10 sessions of informal meetings had been devoted to the agenda item in the resumed session. Those meetings had enabled the Committee to agree on a consensus text and to meet the 31 March deadline for approving a draft that would instruct the Committee on Contributions on how to proceed in preparing a scale for the period 1998-2000.
He introduced the draft resolution, which would have the Assembly ask the Committee on Contributions to present to the Assembly's fifty-second session eight proposals for a scale for the period 1998-2000 on the basis of eight different submissions.
The representative orally proposed that the words, "in accordance with the concept of responsibility to pay" be deleted from the beginning of paragraph 1 (e) (x) of the consensus draft. The new paragraph should read: "permanent members of the Security Council would not be eligible for a low per capita income allowance in calculating their scale of assessments for the regular budget".
Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), the Committee Chairman, proposed that the Committee approve the draft resolution, as orally revised.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote.
Speaking after action, KAZNO WATANABE (Japan) said his delegation had hoped to reach a consensus on a sole text, which had not happened. But the Committee had come to some kind of consensus on the basis of drafts that countries or group of Member States had presented to the Committee. That would make the work of the Committee on Contributions daunting. He expressed hope that further discussions in the Assembly's fifty-second session would facilitate consensus on the scale of assessments.
LOVEMORE MAZEMO (Zimbabwe) expressed disappointment that, despite the consensus decision, the Committee was not able to shortlist the various proposals due, perhaps, to a lack of courage or political will. The Committee should have been able to distinguish between proposals that could have served as research models from those that could have been serious grounds for action.
Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) reserved the right to explain her position in the Assembly plenary. But, she pointed out, the Spanish version of the Canadian-sponsored draft resolution (document A/C.5/51/L.53) on the scale would have the Assembly reaffirm that "the capacity to pay of the United States" was the fundamental criterion for determining the scale of
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assessments, making the need for correction obvious. The error also showed that more funds should be made available for editing texts.
Mr. HANSON (Canada) thanked the Cuban delegate for pointing out the error. He said the text should state that "the capacity to pay of Member States" was the fundamental criterion for determining the scale of assessments.
Mr. YUSSUF (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, expressed appreciation for the fact that some consensus had been reached.
ZHANG WANHAI (China) said his delegation had previously expressed opposition to operative paragraphs 1 (c) and 1 (g) of the United States- sponsored draft resolution (document A/C.5/51/L.46) on the scale of assessments. Since a related press release of the Department of Public Information (DPI) had mistakenly stated that his delegation had opposed paragraphs 1 (c) and 1 (d), the error should be corrected to enable the Chinese delegation to have a very happy holiday.
[Operative paragraph 1 (c) would propose a ceiling rate of 20 per cent for the scale of assessments. Paragraph 1 (g) would make permanent members of the Security Council ineligible for relief based on low per-capita income.]
WEN CHIN POWLES (New Zealand), speaking also for Canada and Australia, said that even though there still remained major differences on the scale of assessments, the Fifth Committee had taken a right approach that had enabled it to instruct the Committee on Contributions on how to propose to craft a new scale.
However, she continued, there should be no misunderstanding of the fact that one of the main reasons why the current approach was accepted was in order to give the major contributor time to come back to the Committee with a plan to pay up its dues with no conditions attached. She expressed hope that she would not be disappointed.
PAUL MENKVELD (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union, also thanked the coordinator for his efforts to ensure that the Committee achieved consensus on the agenda item. He said the coordinator had constantly reminded delegations about their objectives and he had succeeded.
He thanked all those Member States who showed flexibility and who were willing to negotiate and to depart from their own proposals. He expressed the hope that all the other delegations would be flexible when the issue was discussed during the Assembly's fifty-second session, later in the year.
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Mr. BLUKIS (Latvia) thanked the coordinator for his patience. He said it was important that the Committee understood what it had accomplished. The consensus arrived at was very important but it was an agreement to disagree. Even the suggestion to continue the present scale was included in the agreement. Noting the number of draft texts that had been submitted, he said that perhaps in future all proposals could be submitted to the Secretariat and they could be combined into one. However, he cautioned that was not the way to proceed with negotiations.
He said that by arriving at the compromise on the draft text on the scale of assessments, the Committee had moved backward. It needed to take that position seriously. He expressed the hope that the Committee on Contributions would take the issue seriously and assist the Assembly. However, he did not see how that Committee would make any progress. The Fifth Committee must face up to the lack of progress on the matter or it would not do much better next fall.
AHOUNOU MANLAN (Cote d'Ivoire) also praised the coordinator.
The Committee concluded its consideration of the item.
Committee Chairman, Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), adjourned the first part of the resumed session of the Fifth Committee.
The meeting ended at midnight.
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